Emily Sheldrake

Biography

Emily grew up in East Anglia and at the age of nine was awarded a RAM scholarship to study with renowned violinist Fred Grinke.

When she was thirteen she went to Chetham’s School of Music and studied with Roger Raphael. In her final year at Chetham’s she led the Chamber and Symphony orchestras and won the concerto auditions for strings going on to perform Prokofiev’s 1st Violin Concerto with Chris Adey at the RNCM. She also won the Ida Carroll prize for strings that year.

Emily continued her studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where she also took a specialist course in Baroque Performance.

After graduating from the Guildhall she spent the next eleven years performing, recording and touring Europe with many of the country’s leading baroque orchestras including the Academy of Ancient Music, Gabrieli Consort and players, Hanover Band and Fiori Musicali. During this time she also recorded string arrangements for ODH Studios, Brightside Recordings (Sony), Breaks Co-op (Parlophone), Soul II Soul Studios and led the string group for the Zoe Mace/Brian Conley shows at the Oxford Apollo.

Emily moved to Norfolk in 2007 and currently teaches violin at Norwich School and Wymondham College. Many of her students have achieved Distinction at Grade 8 and Diploma, led and performed concerto movements with NCYO and have been offered places at Chetham’s, Purcell School, Birmingham Conservatoire, Trinity College London, Royal College of Music and Royal Northern College of Music.

Emily loves living in the beautiful Norfolk countryside with her husband and their four rescue dogs.